Seoul: South Korea's auto exports increased by 21.7 percent in January compared to the previous year, fueled by strong shipments of eco-friendly vehicles and a higher number of working days, as revealed by government data on Thursday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the total value of automobile exports reached US$6.07 billion last month, marking the second-highest January on record. This surge was primarily driven by the rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars. Specifically, EV exports rose 21.2 percent year-on-year to $780 million, while hybrid car shipments saw an impressive increase of 85.5 percent, amounting to $1.71 billion.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources highlighted that the improved performance in January was partly due to a greater number of working days in 2026 compared to the previous year. In 2025, the Lunar New Year holiday occurred in January, resulting in fewer working days, whereas this year, the extended holiday shifted to February.

Geographically, exports to the United States saw a 19.2 percent year-on-year increase, reaching $2.66 billion, even amidst U.S. tariff effects. Shipments to the European Union experienced a significant jump of 34.4 percent, totaling $871 million. Additionally, exports to Latin America and Oceania rose by 34.1 percent and 30.2 percent, respectively, amounting to $234 million and $322 million. However, exports to Asia declined by 30.1 percent, totaling $325 million.

Domestically, the sales figures reflected positive growth as well, with 120,787 vehicles sold last month, marking a 14 percent increase from the previous year.